Meet Sebastian Klinger

 

We recently connected with Sebastian Klinger and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sebastian, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

Being a self-employed filmmaker, I generally feel very fortunate. Usually what I’m doing doesn’t feel like work at all – it’s simply an extended hobby that I’ve been lucky enough to pursue professionally. Therefore, it appears natural to me to tackle every new day with a lot of passion and drive. From very early on I’ve never seemed to have issues with setting alarm clocks in the morning or working late night shifts pondering over some passion project or finishing assignments. This likely stems from both my Swiss upbringing valuing a productive work ethic and a strong motivation to earn a living with something that makes me happy – as opposed to a job I wouldn’t feel passionate about.

Also, it definitely helps to be surrounded by like-minded, supporting people who turn work into a fun heap of creativity. In any other industry outside of filmmaking this likely wouldn’t work for me, which makes it even more apparent that I feel truly at home in this strange but beautiful profession. My self-discipline now allows me to keep working as cinematographer and producer on a larger scale internationally, which I feel very lucky about.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a Swiss cinematographer and producer for narrative and commercial films. The art of filmmaking has always fascinated me – the power to tell stories, to shape reality and evoke emotions. Particularly cinematography, one of its most vital elements, has gripped me as it lends additional layers of meaning to a story through visual language. Thinking about how to reach people on a subconscious level is very thrilling and a core aspect of my craft as cinematographer. Then again, the film industry itself is a very multifaceted, beautiful bubble where creativity, social skills and technical understanding coalesce. Being able to work in this ever-changing landscape of visual storytelling makes me feel very lucky.

While my passion mainly lies within the craft of telling stories with imagery, I’ve come to enjoy the producing side of narrative films, too. In my eyes many of the producer’s skills complement cinematography in one way or the other when being cost-effective with camera angles, setting up the schedule according to the best lighting conditions or securing additional financing in order to afford a beautiful set of lenses. It allows me to dive deeper into a project and be fully invested in its journey. Additionally, I think this broader understanding of film production sets me apart from more typical cinematographers who focus exclusively on camera work.

I recently attended Camerimage, an incredible festival dedicated to the art of cinematography in Torún, Poland, where my latest feature ‘Sew Torn’ has been selected. Sharing my work with the world and walking among the greatest cinematographers on the planet is an unbelievable feeling. Before that, the film has screened at South by Southwest Film Festival and on the Piazza Grande at Locarno Film Festival, among others.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

In my experience, all of one’s qualities have an impact on a career. Especially as a freelance filmmaker, you not only promote your own name but also your entire personality. However, there are three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey so far, and one of them is reliability. As a Swiss citizen, aspects like punctuality and trustworthiness are naturally engrained in my work. I’m always working hard to deliver on time and on budget – and my collaborators appreciate that a lot. Secondly, you need to be fully invested in this career and take risks. The film industry becomes one’s home – even during late night shifts – and you need to feel an excitement for every next take and every new day. Equally important is showing up at filmmaking events and nurturing business relationships with past collaborators – as well as having the courage to approach new ones. My most impactful quality, however, is a thorough kind-heartedness. Approaching difficult situations with a smile and well-considered manners in my eyes leads to better solutions and more pleasant human interactions. On a film set, my goal is to remain a calm anchor for everyone when things become stressful and start to go wrong. After all, the film bubble is fairly small, and people remember you by the way you behave – and personal recommendations are still the main source of work, at least for me.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Back in 2016 I was fortunate to meet a Swiss/American family who had just moved to Switzerland. The father, Fred Macdonald, had owned an animation studio in the US before and was looking for a cinematographer to collaborate with for his son’s first live action short film. Funnily, I saw a lot of myself in this 16-year-old kid, Freddy Macdonald. Having started being around cameras and film sets with the age of 11 and having been supported by my family, it was great to see that Freddy already had this passion at such a young age. Little did I know that this encounter would alter my career drastically. We ended up shooting not only one but five award-winning short films and multiple music videos for three-time Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito. In these years Freddy taught me resilience and directed my cinematography with a kind-hearted self-confidence rarely found elsewhere. Our common path guided us towards bigger film productions with Freddy becoming AFI’s youngest Directing Fellow ever accepted at the age of 18, securing representation at UTA and eventually winning the Student Academy Award. I feel very honored that Freddy continues to be one of my closest collaborators and helps me to develop my skills and qualities every day. Our partnership recently peaked when our feature film SEW TORN premiered at SXSW, headlined the Piazza Grande at Locarno Film Festival and was selected at Camerimage.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Eva Jost, Stefan Klinger, Aleksandar Valeks, Locarno Film Festival

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